The Springfield Township Police Department recognizes a shared responsibility and connection between the police and the community in making Springfield Township a safer, more livable place. In order to provide the best possible service, we need your input. The following links describe how you can request additional patrol, report crimes, and give feedback on officer performance (either positive or negative).

Reporting Emergencies

Emergencies include crimes that are in progress or about to happen, and ones that have resulted in serious personal injury, property damage, or property loss. They also include situations in which the suspect may still be at the scene and some suspicious activities. By calling 9-1-1 you will be linked to the appropriate police as well as fire fighting, medical, and ambulance services. You don't need money to call 9-1-1 from a pay phone. See Safety Tips for Parents to find out how to teach your children to use 9-1-1.

Examples of 9-1-1 emergencies

Some examples of crime emergencies that should be reported by calling 9-1-1 are:

Fights, sexual assaults, etc.

Homicides

Burglaries and robberies

Flashlight beam in a business or home, especially if the business is closed or the residents are away

Runaway juvenile or missing person who needs special care -- be sure to tell the operator if the person needs medication and has a special problem, e.g., Alzheimer's disease

Persons who are:

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Entering a neighbor's home when the neighbor is away

Forcing an entry of a home, business, or vehicle

Exhibiting unusual mental or physical symptoms that poses a threat to him/herself or others

Removing property from a business, home, or vehicle, especially if the business is closed or the residents are away

Carrying or wearing bloody clothing

Struggling with a resisting child

Trying to or actually using a vehicle to pick up a person by force, especially a child or female

9-1-1 Calls from Wireless Phones

Until recently, 9-1-1 calls from cellular phones were answered by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. OSP, in turn, transferred calls that were not freeway related to the appropriate jurisdiction for a response. In the last five years, the State of Ohio has mandated that cellular phone companies modify their technology to route calls to the appropriate agencies. The larger cellular phone companies have met the established standards and can now send their calls to any agency ready to receive them.

In order for this service to work properly, callers need to contact their service provider to determine if they have GPS ready phones. They also have to set their telephones to “location” in order for the GPS module to pass along the caller location. Citizens should contact their service providers for detailed instructions.

Caution: wireless callers should NOT assume that STPD will receive their exact location. When making a 9-1-1 call from a cellular phone, they should stay on the line and advise the dispatcher where they are calling from. At this early stage, testing has shown the GPS data is NOT exact enough to ensure emergency personnel will be able to locate the caller.

Reporting Non-Emergencies

The STPD's 24-hour number for non-emergency calls and general information is (330) 733-1061 . Crimes and suspicious activities that fall into this category are: (a) those that don't involve serious personal injury, property damage, or property loss; (b) ones in which there is no possibility that the suspect is still at the scene or is likely to return to the scene; and (c) ones for which an immediate response is not needed. If there is any doubt as to whether the situation is an emergency, it is always better to be on the safe side and call 9-1-1.

The STPD response to non-emergency calls will depend on the relative seriousness or priority of the situation, the likelihood of making an arrest at the scene, and the availability of an officer. Response times are the longest for so-called "cold crimes" like home burglaries where the perpetrator has fled the scene, no suspects exist, and the victim is in no further danger.

Some example situations that may not be emergencies are:

Home and business burglaries in which the suspect is gone from the scene

Open or broken doors or windows in businesses or homes, especially if the business is closed or the residents are away

Stolen checks and credit cards -- also call the financial institutions involved to have them stop payments of checks and verifications of charges

Impersonation and stolen identification, e.g., drivers license

Auto theft and vandalism

Hit and run accidents with no injuries

Minors violating curfew

Loud parties -- the person calling must be willing to sign a complaint

Road hazards that don't require immediate attention

Past instances of graffiti or other vandalism

Past instances of child or elder abuse

Runaway juvenile or missing adult who does not need special care

Car or building alarms

Underage drinking

Accumulations of consumer goods, especially in good condition and not in use in homes, garages, and storage areas

Soliciting without a license, not displaying a valid registration card, or operating between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.

Going door-to-door, or into side or back yards in a residential area

Loitering near a business or home, especially if the business is closed or the residents are away

Loitering near schools or parks

Looking into parked vehicles

Running other than for exercise

Carrying property at an unusual time and place

Entering and leaving property on daily or regular basis, or in large numbers, especially at night

Drunk in public but not in any immediate danger

Exhibiting unusual mental or physical symptoms but not a danger to themselves or others

Offering goods for sale at ridiculously low prices

Making a quick change of vehicles

The ability of the police to locate and arrest criminals often depends on the thoroughness and accuracy of the report you submit. The following information checklist should be used for reporting both emergency and non-emergency crimes: